Typewriter construction



Sept. 11, 1928. 1,683,770

F. R. FRIEDRICH TYPEWRITEH CONSTRUCTION Filed April 24, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR QMJM;

A TTORNE Y Sept. 11, 1928.

F. R. FRIEDRICH TYPBvmI'rER CONSTRUCTION Filed April 24, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A dual/fizz;

A TTORNE Y Sept. 11, 1928. 1,683,770

- I F. R. FRIEDRICH TYPEWRITER CONSTRUCTION Filed April 24, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 a, IN V E N TOR Fwy/aw mmw ATTORNEY Sept. 11, 1.928.

F. R. FRIEDRICH TYPEWRITER CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR fk/rz ffwoz/w fiymfi/c/x Filed April 24, 1924 4M 1. film/.-

' ATTORNEY rYrEwRrrER PAT ENTIOFFICE.

rm'rz RUDOLPH FRIEDRICH, on NEW YORK; NQY.

CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed April 24, 1924. SerialNo. 708,669. I

i This invention relates to typewriter construction. p

One of the objects of this provide a typewriter of simple, practical and durable construction and of reliable action Another object is to prov de a typewriter construction Lthat will be of l1ght weight and compact so as to be conveniently portable and yet to beinclusive "of dependability of action and durability of construction. Another object is to provide a simple and effective yielding type action and moreover one that will be of fiexibilityvof construetion and action and arrangement as to insure proper operation. Anot-her ob ect is to provide a typewriter construct on of'the above nature that will, lend itself readily not only to inexpensive manufacture, but also to production on a large quant ty scale. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

i The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts all of which will beexemplifiedin the construct on hereinafter describedandthe scope of the pplication ofwhich will be indicated in the' following claims; r 7 Q s i i In the accompanying drawings, n which there are illustrated several ofjvariousposa sible embodiments of this invention; 7

3 Figure 1 is a' plan view of aniassembled typewriter certain parts being broken away iii order to show moreclearly certain features of construction; a p Figure 2 's a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of-Figure 1;

Fi 2a i apartial view oft-the assembled typeheads. in retracted position, moreparticularly as seen Fi ureQ; p

igure 3 is a fragnientary perspect ve viewlof the supporting frame work for the type bars, certain'parts beinge ther broken away or omitted inorder to show more clearl v certain features of theeonstruction; iFigure t is a fragmentary sectional view tail-ion along the linef4 -4of Figure2; Figure fi is a fragmentary front elevation along'the line 21 2 of of certain parts o f' tlieftype bar actuating mechanism, and more particularly is a front view as seen substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 2; y t l Figure 6 is a'vertical sectional view on a smaller scale, showing a preferred embodiinvention is to .ment of certain of the features Oftllis iiivention, and

Fi ure 7 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 6, but illustrating the preferred t embodiment'ofone of-the features of this invention associated with another type of 1 type bar actuating mechanism.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing. Referring now to the drawings andmore particularly to Figures 1 and 2, there is generally indicated at 10a main supporting frame which is preferably made up out of sheet metal so as to'provide a bottom or base member 10, vertically extending sidewalls 10, and a vertically extending front wall 1 0. The frame member 10 may be given this form as by stamping, for example. At the right hand end of the main frame member 10 and'as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, there extends transversely of .the frame member 10 and between the opposite side walls 10"; a vertical extending sheet metal supporting membenll preferably secured to the frame member 10 as by riveting or in member 11 is providedwith a series of vertically extending slots ll through each of which is adapted to pass a key lever 12, the extreme end of which is pivoted upon a fulcrum bar 1 1 suitablymounted on the right hand face of the supporting member 11 as by means, of the brackets 11, for example.

The keylevers 12 (see Figure 1) are thus not only pivoted attheir one end upon a common fulcrum bar ,11 but also held-in spacedrelation with respect to one another any othersuitable manner. Thesupporting" at their pivoting ends by the vertically extending slots in the supporting member 11. a The key levers 12 extend toward the front part ofthe apparatus or tothe left as viewed i in Figures 1 and 2 and are preferably shaped substantially as shown in Figure 2, it be ng noted that they are depressed intermediate their extreme ends so as toprovid'e sufficient s spaceover'them for the accommodation of the mechanism actuated thereby. The key levers 12 are also bent at anintermediate 10 of the main frame member 10, the front wall 'lo fbeing provided with verticall .v extendingspaceslots; one for each key ever. 'I. he key lcvers,it Wlll thus be seen; are thus compactly arranged and mountedani moreover are Well supported and guided for oscillation about the pivotmg or tulerumlngbar 11". Each lever 1215 provided in the usual manner with a vertically 1 extending finger piece 12", for example, for manual actuation. A spring 12 connects each key lever toa stationary partf the apparatus as'for 'example,- to the upper end portion of the ifi'ont Wall 1001?traine inmber 10,in order to hold each' key lever withits associated J linger, piecein norma l position and ready for manual actuationm keylever rest '14 extend ng across '{flfll -front wa'll" 10 and provided with a cushion member 14 upon its lower face, acts to limit the upwardn' ovementgcf the key levers n" response to the springs 12, and the pad 14serves to cushion I the return stroke so as to eliminate vibration. The guiding and supporting members 11 and 10 with whiclrtliekey levers 12coact are; as above notedrpll'eferably made of sheet metal and may thus conveniently and in =expensively be given the desired conformation and may also be slotted forthereception ofythe key lev 2, stampigg and l l tions respectivel y I y lhe supporting member 11 Supports the forward end of an aux-iliary frainemember with which areassO'ciatedthe type bars and actuating mechanisms therefor. Thls aux1li iary frame member is generally indicated at 15 and is preferably {made of sheet metal" and.

soflshaped as to pro'videa base or bottom a member lofiandtwo oppositely disposedand \ei't-ically extending side Wall members 15" -1nd 15 (seeinoreparticularly Figure 3). The aumliaryframe member 15; and hence the bottom niemher15ithereof has in general the shape ot' a sector, the side wall'members 15 and 15 being thus-made 'to' include an angler; the 'vcrte of which isthe printing mint on the platen' IGKsee Figures 1 and 3). lletween the side ivalls'lfi? and 15 are disposGdjthe"type bars insuch manner that each m :arpriliary frame mcniber 15 or type action Y assembly is supporteddirectly from the botibar occupi'es the position of and is movable alongthe radiusot a C'ricle, the center of whi'cli' is theprinting point on the platen 16.

The left hand (or; front) portions'of the tom member of theinain frame' IO as by means' 'ofthe downwardly extended legs and 15 Fntegrally formed with the side wall "members 15" and 1 5 (see more particularly Figure 3) "The auxiliary frame member 15,

aiwnrrale be seen,th'us 'jrovides in effect a three point suspeusionfor the type assembled type bar actuating mechanism, thus greatly facilitating notonly the construction, 1 11mm: alsothe assemblyot the apparatus;

At this point it may be noted that the platen 16 may be actuated in the direction of its axis and shiftable verticallyfor up or case' -a'nd lower case printing in any suita Jlc 111 2131194 the qmechan sm for actuating the platen is not herein illustrated or described of this invention and may be of any one of various we'll-known kinds.

As will be seen in Figure 2 of the drawings, the bottom portio'nlfi of the auxiliary frame member lo slopes down wardlytowai'd the left(or the frontfofxthe machine and it will also be' seen that the formation; given the key levels 12 as hereinbefore noted, per nuts suchdownwardsloping oftlie auxiliary, frame member to take place, thus insuring compactness of construction andlalso resulting in a, "decreased'over-all height of the machine Supported upon? the bottom ure 3), these slots 17 being conveniently punched in the sheetnietal member 17 to form in effect a 'guiding comb: The lower portionofthe sheet metal member 18 is also providedwith alike series of vertically ex tending and laterallyfispaced slots 18 which likewise are conveniently punched or'otheriwise' formed lathe sheet nietal member 18.

.inasmncl assuch mechanism forms no part a Jan The slots 17 and 1-8" are adapted to slidably support therein thelo ver bank of type bars 19', which bank includes ajnumber of type'bars. substantially equal 'to one-half the numberof key levers 12.? Each type barn) ,ofthe lower banksupportsat its right hand end aity'pe headEZO upon the right hand face or which are formedtheupper case ty'lie ind cated diagrammaticallyat 20 and the lower case type indicated diagrammatically 20", the two types-being vertically spaced in the usual manner. Each type bar 19 is extended towardthe' left (or forwardly) as seen in Figureflfto provide an end portion 19" adapted first to, abut against the type bar rest 21- suitably' secured tothc bottoiii member of 15" andextendingtransverselythereof '(see Figure 3) and" second,' to provide a guiding portion forcoaction with the slot 17 in'the guide comb 1.7 during the printing movement in thegdirection of a radius ofthe type'bar 19 itself. The type bar rest 21 is provided with a cushioning member 21 to absorb the shock of of the type bar 19;

The type bar 19, guided by the radially the return movement alignedslots 17 and 18*intheguidecombs 17 and 18"respectively 'is adapted when moved toward the right} asrviewed in Figlure 2, to strike "the lowercase'type 20 (or theupper case type 20 when the platen is verticallyshifted) against theplaten 16 to effect a printing operation. At the extrei'ne rlght hand end of thebottom, member of the au xilia ry frame 15 there is mounted a type guide generally indicated at 22 and provided with. an -aperture- QQ through i whichthe type headQO of a-type bar19 ]S and to the printing point on the platen 16 at the radially aligned portion l2 thereoi" guided to the printing point on the platen 16. The type guide "22 (see Figure 1) is provided witlr twoside walls 22 and 22 aligned jsubstantiallywith the side walls 15 and-15. in order that-any one of the type bars 19 may have its respective, type head 20 properly guided through the aperture 22? Each type bar-[19 of'the lower bank is actuated from one of the key levers 12 by linkages of which onl one needs to be specifically described; xtendingtransversely of the auxiliary frame-member 15 and preferably secured at its respective ends to the ing and late-rally spaced guiding slots 23" 'in number, one for eachpalr of aligned slots 17 and 183 Within each slot 23 iextends 'for oscillating actuation about a common "fulcruniing bar 241a bellcrank lever 25 the.

lower arm of-whichis connected as by the linkage 26 to one of the'keylevers12 and (see Figure 1); Theupper cnd ofth'e hell CIZIIIklBVGI 25is connected by afushaped "link 27, to 't-he type bar "19' and preferably at v a point intermedi ate O ili' the guide con'ibs 17 and 18. Anianual depression of a key bank results infa clockwiseswinging of the bell cranltlever'QS about the fulcrum bar-221, the resultant substantially linear movement of the upper end of the lever being); communicated through' theflirik 27 to the type barectiou of a radius tofbring'the type head 30 through'thelguide and to the printing position; The U-sharmdlinkQT, it is to be noted. inherently by its construction 1s Y7Ql(l able in that the width ofthefu' which it forms may readily vary within slight but appreciable limits. The impression C011.)- pact of the type head with the platen 116 IS thus a yieldable or resilient one; it beingnoted that the long arm of the lever 25 forms with the link 27 a toggle. As the toggle straightens out to carrythe type; head 2() into printing position, the force with which the type head is carried against the platen increases as 'is characteristic: of the toggle action; and hence the yieldability ot the link 27 is effective to take up the reaction-0t the increasing printing contact head 20. with the platen 16.

lever associated with a type baryot tl'ielower 19. The latter is thiis moved in the. di-:

The return movement of: the type bar 19 his etlected by the spring 12 acting through this same linkage.

The upper pofrtionot thesheetmetal memrber 18 15 also provided with a series of spaced slots-18* 1n order to form a' forward tude comb for the typebars ofthe upper bank. The spaced slots 18", however, are not in yertic-a1..aligmnent'with the: spaced slots 18. in the lower portion of the member: l8,' but a rather alternate'therewith, as is more clearly. shown in Flgiure' l. The upper end 01 the .sheet metal guideii'nember 1S is secured to a toppplateQS:sloping upwardly to the left: "as seen .both in'Fig'ures 2 and 3 and torming in ellect a partial complement to the bottom member 15 of the auxiliary frame This top platea28 supports in depend.- ingi'elation therefrom a guide c0mb 29 Aprovided with'spaced slots 29 in radial alignment with the; slots 18- in the comb 1S. In;

the upper guide comb'vportioniot the member-18 andin the arcuate guidei combv 29'- are supported the type bars 30 of the upper bank, for radial movement into "printing position. Atthe left hand end ofjthe ;to p

plateQS issecured a transversely extending type bar-rest 31, sultablypcushioned as at of the type a St;

31, to limit as well as "cushionjthe return movementot the type bars 30,'thelatter being convenientlyextended to. the left as at 30". Each type barBOxcarrJesa type head 4Ol'olf preferably similar construction to the on t-helower bank of type type heads 20 bars"19.

' A guide comb 32 (see Figures Qand 3) is secured to the left hand end 'ofthe top plate 28, and is arcuate in shape so as to be concentric with theflguide combs-1181 and 29. The guide comb 32is suitably slotted, to support and guide'thercin about" acommoir fulcrum bar 33 :a series of hell crank levers 3 1, there being one lever 3 1 for each type-bar 30. Each bell: crank lever 34" connected to'a corresponding key lever-1'2 ascby the llllk'ilf) whereupon a manual de-' pression of thekey lever 12 causes a counter clockwise swinging of the ebellci'anlelever 34 to take place. Thei resultant movement of the lower end ofthe level: 3 1 is'cominunh cated to its-associated typeba-rSO by mean's of the .U-shaped link 36 connected to atype bar at a point internlediate oi" itstivo guide combs.- The U-shaped link 'ldi orms with the lever 3st a toggle and, coacts therewith in a manner substantially identical to that described in connection with the link 27.

' The return to normal position 01 the parts its respective keylever12r At. this point it may be noted that "the typebars and va ious linkages, as well as H1 tiveparts.v I?

hey levers associated therewith are preterably of sheet metal rconstruetion and may conveniently-be stampedinto any desired fishape orformuxllloreover, it will. be noted '5 that the guide combs 23 Hand 32 efieetively 'guide their respective bellerank levers in their oscillation about the common pivoting bar-51st) as to avoid the necessity of carefully machined bearing portions for the respec- Aeover memberi37 ofsuitable conformation:and preferably formed of sheet metal {is adapted to $13G fitted-over the ease-like vtirely enclose "the type action assembly and V certain of its assoclated mechanisms.

a m the foregoing, eertain of the attendant aetions-jduring the operation of the mechanism' will :be' readily understood, .and in fact, eentain iof these have already been h'ere'in'before set-"forth indetail. It should be noted,however that iigheicoinb guide 18 lfihrough *whi ch..thetype 7 bars of both banks extend nndmove is; spaced a substantial dis- 16." F*Tl1e .type heads-20t(or 40, as the'ease may be) are thus freely supported when apgproaehing the printing position by: a sub- Istantial length ;oi:' type bar. projecting its lateral sidetportions so as snhstanti'ally to e gradnallyanerge thegreaterithiekness of the type headintoutheslesser thickness of its 45 assoeiated ftype bar. L The type headsg in being-#11113 iheveled, greatly facilitate the avoidance of jamming the type headsof a giwen hank, since, for example; a type head I Jthroughout rts yl'movements and it willy-he noted that by sg-i-vI-ing the-"type bar 30" the :returning from :printing position :and tend ing to Ieollide with] another type head ineving into printin'g {POSlillOll merely and prac- 'ti'eally brush one another aside, it being :noted that the lateral flexibility ofthe itype bars assists thisaetionp 1 As wvill be seen rfrom 'both Figures '12 and ih nnd as already hereinabove .noted, rthe tyjive heeds together with their respective type hairs of tired-upper bank are alternated with those of the ,l0\\T1 l)I1 I1k. By-so :relating the type heads of *the *two' banks one to another, and by beveling the type 'heads "(as jacent or eontiguoussitlesws viewedin bo'th embodiment shown in EF igmze 6 isrshowniat 19 .fllld'lllitii substantially :the same ie'harac- '130 .er head :40 r f rthe upper bank of a' type #head =niain frame member 10 to substantially entype head preferably as hereinbefdre (letnneefroin the printingPoiht. on ."t-he platen thrmIgh-theguide comb l8.- The type :bars 1 .able member 29 for absorbin tion 30 of-rthe typebarfifl" has the same as the two approachior, passeuehother' in the vertical plane, in much the same manner ;ashereinubove described in eolmeetioi'imi-th the approaching orpassing movementgof two ormor'e type headsofreither bank ina substantially horizontalyplane. Here also the lateral fiexibilitysof'the type bars assists in preventing the jamming of the apparatus. v In order further tosun )lify the o eretive mechanism and also furtier mm uce the" Lorena-ll height of; the apparatus, I: preferably constructed the type bars 30 01 the upper bank as shown at 30 inFig'ure 6, to

which reference may now be made. he type bar 3O carnesat its forward end seribed,}and is slidablysupported in aguide wcomb 18, at its one endg andi adjacent its -other end :ll'l 1a guide comb 29,

each of substantially similar construetionlii A at the guide combs 18 and 29 "hereine beforedeseribedr'The guide combv29, of' i the embodiment shown in lligure 6, how- '=ever,.;is extended downwardly to agreater extent and has the spaced slots "thereint formed (adjacent its lower *end. The type bar 30"; while of integral construction throughout, embodies a right hand=.-portion .30 for coaetionswith the slots :18 in the comb 1'8 and afleft hand end portion 30 -11 preferably parallel :to the portion 30 for COfLClLlOILWllill tlieslots in the lower portion of the guideeomh-BQ. An'intermediateand substantially vertically extending portion 30" connects thepants 30 and 30 and foitnis iur a shoulderilmdieated generally at 30'- adapted to hmitt'he'retraetive movementof theitype bar to its y normal position kofrest. The

guide comb 29 thus functions alsojasa type a :bar rest 2and has; mounted upon it a yieldthe shoekof I the return stroke (if-.thetype are.

The type-head 40 is thus accuratelylguided shape abovedescribed, the-Vertical height of compact, as well asanore simple. The porcharacteristic as to "lateral flexibility as the avoidunee of jamming ior interlocking of type *bars :and (type heads; either of the same The flower type 'ba-r, referring still the rest.

shown in connection with-Figure 2,'and like parts aresimilarly indicated'in both tigures. It mayphowever, be noted that the U-shaped yieldable link 36-is preferably con nected to the type bar at the lowerend ofthe connecting portion of 30 thereof.

Certain of the features ofthis invention have been illustratively set forth and described hereinbefore' in connection with a type bar actuating mechanism of the impression type. In Figure 7 I have illustrated certain of these features in connection with of the bell crank lever 42 is connected by a. U-shaped link 43 to a point on the type barv 19 intermediate of the guide combs 17 and 18. Depression of a type bar 12 to which the link allis connected results in the counter clockwise swinging of the bell crank lever 42, the substant ally linearmovementof its lower extreme end being communicated d1- rectly to the type bar 19 through theyield,

able U-shaped link 43 the action of which has already been hereinabove described in connection with Figure 2 The type bars 30 of the upper bank are operated by a somewhat similar system of linkages which include a short link 44 connecting a key lever 12 to the short arm of a bell crank lever 45. The bell crank levers 45 are pivotally mounted upon pivoting rod 46 associated with a vertically extending guide comb 47 suitably slotted to guidethe levers throughout their oscillating movement. The upper end of the bell cranklever 45 is connected through a U-shaped link 48 to the type bar 30*, to communicate the movement of the upper end of the bell crank lever 45 to the type bar in response to a depression of the key lever 12 to which the link 44: is connected. The actionot the U- shaped link 48as to its yieldable characteristic has already hereinabove been set forth in connection with Figure 2', but it may be briefly noted that both of the U-shaped links of 43 and 48 of F igure-7 actbeneficially in bringing abouta printing operation at' the urintin melding quality. I 1 V lt-iwill thus be seen thatthere has been point by reason of theirinherent provided in this invention a typewriter construction in which theseveratobjects hereinbefore noted, as wellas many tl10roughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. It will be noted that the construc-- tion is simple but rugged, andis of a nature that lends itself readily toginexpensive man- The several parts may be readily and inex-' pensively formed out of sheet metal for example,-and'by reason of theinherent fea- .ufacture and production on a large scaler tures ofconstruction hereinbefore noted,

may be readily assembled without requiring a high degree oi precision eitherintheir-individualt machining or in their assembling.

ll-Ioreovenit may be notedalso thatthe apparatus is exceedingly compact in' arrai'igement and automatically corrective of jan'nning tendencies when in action.

As various embodiments might be. made of: the above invention and as various changes might beniade in the embodiment above set forth, all without departing from the scope ofthis invention, it to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted; as illustrative and not in a limiting sense' 1 .I claim as my invention: 1

1. In typewriter construction, in combination, a plurality of type bars, means tor supporting movably said type bars in two vertically displaced banks and adapted 'to permit movement of each typebar to a; com? mon printingpoint, the path of movement, of the type bars o t'; the upperbankbeing inclined to the path of movement of the type bars of the lower bank, and a type head at the end of each type .bar,"each type head on a type bar of one bank having a tapered inclined portion facing toward the type head of a type bar in the other bank, thereby to facilitate by-passing of one type head by 1 the other. i

2. In typewriter construction, in combina permit the by-passing ofthe type heads of one bank and another tapered portion 1 adapted to permit a type head of one bank to bypass a type head of another bank.

3. In typewriter construction, in combinaime plurelityefi type bars et h nher n y flex ble in. :1 d r ction tr n versely of; its

ength; m ansme ablymounting said type bars to permit movement thereoi to a, comtersectinge paths, aplurality? of key levers, one fnr. each, ype ber for selectively pe ati'tlgsaid type bars,*saicl flexible type bars permittingone to yield with respect tothe other, and vthereby toeperinit onegto by-pass.

the other, aconnection between each type barv and its correspondlng key lever, said connectioninclutling at sheet metal link .in:

herently yieldable. within its own plane.

. 4:. Initypexyriter construction, in eombinz tion, a;p1ural1ty of type bars each inherentlyflexible in a direction transversely of its length meansflmovably mounting said type bansxto permit. movement thereof 'to a conimon printing oint and insubstantially inter'secting pet is, a, plurality of key levers, one for enclr type bar, for selectively operating said type bars, said flexible type bars permitting. onev to yield with respect to the m'on printing point. end-'insubstantielly inte1'*'s ecting' paths, a plnralityjof key levers, onefor each type be 'rffor selectively operating said type b'a'rsfsaid flexible type bars emnitt i g one to yield with-respect to the other ?thereby to permit one'to'by pass 6, In typewriter construction, in combine-i tion, a plurality of type bars arranged in" wo vertic lly displecedb nlgs, means fer movablysupporting and; guiding said type bars to permit them to beimovecl insuhstm -Q tially intersectingpzithsto a co nmon )rinting point and eat-Irina, direction su stantially coincident with thejlength of-each type bar, andthe'type hereof-one bank having it rearward portion displaced vertie callyfrom the forward ortlon thereof, thereby to reduce the heigit of sititl bank.

7. In typewriter construction, incoxnbinaition, a plurality of typex bets, arranged in two vertically displaced banks, means for' movably supporting and guiding said ty )e bars to, permitthem to be. moyedq in su stantiztlly intersecting:pathsftoi a common printing point and each in a directionsube stantially coincident with the length of. each type bangs: and the type hzu'sof one bank;

having a rearward portion displaced vet'ti-' cally from the forward portion thereofi, thereby to reduce. the height of seidbaink and each type bar beinginherently flexible; in a direction transversely off-its, length it thereby to permit mreceding type bar to be; bent by, and'out of the path of an; advancing typeba-r.- t In testimony whereofl havesigned imy name to this specification this ,Qlstdny of April, 1924. t

RUDOLPH. FRIEDRICH. 

